Active phased array antenna and antenna controller

ABSTRACT

An active phased array antenna according to the present invention comprises plural antenna patches  106   a-   106   p  which are arrayed in matrix on a dielectric substrate at equal intervals in the row and column directions, a grounded feeding terminal  108  which is applied with high-frequency electric power, a first control voltage generating means  111  which generates a row-direction orientation control voltage, and a second control voltage generating means  112  which generates a column-direction orientation control voltage. The plural antenna patches  106  are connected to the feeding terminal  108  by feeding lines  121,  branching off from the feeding terminal  108  respectively, and plurally provided phase shifters  107  are arranged constituting a part of the feeding lines  121.    
     In the so-constructed active phased array antenna, a low-cost active phased array antenna which is of a simpler structure and capable of continuously changing antenna orientation characteristics can be realized.

DESCRIPTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an active phased array antenna and anantenna controlling apparatus and, more particularly, to an activephased array antenna which receives and transmits a microwave in acommunication equipment such as a wireless for mobile objectidentification equipment or a satellite broadcast receiving apparatus,as well as an active phased array antenna which receives and transmitsmillimeter waves employed in such as a collision preventing radar forautomobiles, and also to an antenna controlling apparatus employed forcontrolling these active phased array antennas.

2. Background Art

Conventionally, a so-called active phased array antenna is generallyused as an antenna which receives and transmits microwaves andmillimeter waves.

This active phased array antenna conventionally used will be describedwith reference to figures.

FIG. 10(a) is a diagram schematically illustrating a construction of aconventional active phased array antenna 100, and FIG. 10(b) exemplifiesthe construction of a phase shifter 707 as an element constituting theactive phased array antenna 100.

The conventional active phased array antenna 100 includes plural antennapatches 706 a-706 p arrayed on a dielectric substrate and a feeding line710 for distributing a high-frequency signal applied to a feedingterminal 711 to respective antenna patches 706. The active phased arrayantenna 100 also includes phase shifters 707 a-707 p corresponding torespective antenna patches 706 which are arranged on the feeding line710 and changes a phase of the high-frequency signal passingtherethrough and a control circuit 708 which applies a desired dccontrol voltage to each phase shifter 707 and controls a phase shift ofthe high-frequency signal passing each phase shifter 707. While sixteenantenna patches 706 and sixteen phase shifters 707 are provided,respectively, in FIG. 10, this is only an example.

Further, FIG. 10(b) is a diagram illustrating the construction of thephase shifter 707 used in the active phased array antenna 100. All thephase shifters 707 have the identical constructions.

The phase shifter 707 includes first transmission lines 14 a and 20 a atan input side and an output side which are connected to the feeding line710 as transmission lines that transmit inputted high-frequency signals,second transmission lines 14 b and 20 b at the input side and the outputside which are connected to a dc power source through high-frequencyblocking elements 21 and 27, an intermediate transmission line 17 whichis connected to a dc power source through a high-frequency blockingelement 24, a first and a second transmission lines for switching 15 and16 of different lengths which are connected to a first control line V1and a first inversion control line NV1 through the high-frequencyblocking element 24, respectively, and a third and a fourth transmissionlines for switching 18 and 19 of different lengths which are connectedto a second control line V2 and a second inversion control line NV2through high-frequency blocking elements 25 and 26, respectively.

A dc blocking element 12 which blocks a direct current is connectedbetween the first transmission line 14 a and the second transmissionline 14 b at the input side, and a blocking element 13 which blocks adirect current is connected between the first transmission line 20 a andthe second transmission line 20 b at the output side, respectively.

Further, the first and the second transmission lines for switching 15and 16 are located between the intermediate transmission line 17 and thesecond transmission line 14 b at the input side.

Connected between an input side end of the first transmission line forswitching 15 and an output side end of the second transmission line 14 bat the input side is a PIN diode 31 a connected in a forward directionviewed from the second transmission line 14 b to the first transmissionline for switching 15, and between an output side end of the firsttransmission line for switching 15 and an input side end of theintermediate transmission line 17 is a PIN diode 31 b connected in aforward direction viewed from the intermediate transmission line 17 tothe first transmission line for switching 15, respectively.

Connected between an input side end of the second transmission line forswitching 16 and an output side end of the second transmission line 14 bat the input side is a PIN diode 32 a connected in a forward directionviewed from the second transmission line 14 b to the second transmissionline for switching 16, and connected between an output side end of thesecond transmission line for switching 16 and an input side end of theintermediate transmission line 17 is a PIN diode 32 b connected in aforward direction viewed from the intermediate transmission line 17 tothe second transmission line for switching 16.

Further, the third and the fourth transmission lines for switching 18and 19 are located between the intermediate transmission line 17 and thesecond transmission line 20 b at the output side.

Connected between an input side end of the third transmission line forswitching 18 and an output side end of the intermediate transmissionline 17 is a PIN diode 33 a connected in a forward direction viewed fromthe intermediate transmission line 17 to the third transmission line forswitching 18, and connected between an output side end of the thirdtransmission line for switching 18 and an input side end of the secondtransmission line 20 b at the output side is a PIN diode 33 b connectedin a forward direction viewed from the second transmission line 20 b tothe third transmission line for switching 18.

Connected between an input side end of the fourth transmission line forswitching 19 and an output side end of the intermediate transmissionline 17 is a PIN diode 34 a connected in a forward direction viewed fromthe intermediate transmission line 17 to the fourth transmission linefor switching 19, and connected between an output side end of the fourthtransmission line for switching 19 and an input side end of the secondtransmission line 20 b at the output side is a PIN diode 34 b connectedin a forward direction viewed from the second transmission line 20 tothe fourth transmission line for switching 19.

The operation of the active phased array antenna which is provided withthe so-constructed phase shifters 707 will be described.

When a high-frequency electric power is applied to the feeding terminal711, the high-frequency electric power is supplied to respective antennapatches 706 through respective phase shifters 707. Then, a correspondingcontrol voltage required is applied to each phase shifter 707, and aprocessing of making the phase of the high-frequency electric poweradvanced or delayed by a prescribed phase shifter is performed at eachphase shifter 707 on the basis of the control voltage from the controlcircuit 708. Thereby, the high-frequency electric powers of theprescribed positions are inputted from respective antenna patches 706.

In this way, the active phased array antenna 100 performs a control ofits orientation characteristics by applying a dc control voltage fromthe control circuit 708 to respective phase shifters 707 to change thephase shift quantity.

Next, the operation of the phase shifter will be described.

The high-frequency electric power supplied to the phase shifter 707through the feeding line 710 passes through sequentially the firsttransmission line 14 a at the input side, the dc blocking element 12,the second transmission line 14 b at the input side, either one of thefirst and the second transmission lines for switching 15 and 16, theintermediate transmission line 17, either one of the third and thefourth transmission lines for switching 18 and 19, the secondtransmission line 20 b at the output side, the dc blocking element 13,and the first transmission line 20 a at the output side, and ispropagated to the antenna patch 706.

Then, a control voltage for switching ON/OFF of the corresponding PINdiodes 31, 32, 33, and 34 is applied from the respective control linesV1, V2, NV1, and NV2 to respective transmission lines 15, 16, 18, and19, so that respective PIN diodes 31, 32, 33, ad 34 are switched ON/OFFaccording to the control voltage. Thereby, the length of thetransmission line through which the high-frequency electric power passesin the phase shifter 707 is changed, and the high-frequency electricpower is outputted with its phase advanced or delayed by the prescribedphase shift.

However, in the conventional phase shifter 707 having theabove-described construction which constitutes the prior art activephased array antenna 100, since the internal transmission lines areswitched by a control voltage to change a phase shift, the phase shiftis performed not successively but step by step, and this made itnecessary to provide a circuit construction for switching transmissionlines corresponding to the stage number (step number), i.e., thatincluding transmission lines for switching, high-frequency blockingelements, control lines, and the like.

In other words, there exists a problem in that a construction whichenables performing a phase shift with fine steps as well as obtaining alarge phase shift, a large number of circuit constructions for switchingtransmission lines are required.

Further, also in a case where a large number of antenna patches areprovided to obtain an antenna with a large gain, there is a problem thatthe circuit construction and wirings constituting the phase shifter arecomplicated.

Further, as a phase shifter employed for the conventional active phasedarray antenna, there is also one combining a varactor diode with amicrostrip hybrid coupler. Though the varactor diode can continuouslychange orientation, it has a low control voltage, i.e., of several voltsbecause it utilizes a junction capacitance of a PN junction, andtherefore, when a passing electric power of a high-frequency signalwhich passes through the phase shifter is high, the junction capacitancewould change by the signal voltage, resulting in that a lot of higherharmonics are generated. Therefore, it was not general to employ a phaseshifter having such a construction.

Further, while dielectric substrate materials of the microstripstructure control the high frequency propagation characteristics as wellas supports antenna patches or feeding line conductors, the dielectricmaterials are required to have as its high-frequency characteristicsthat of small loss and stable dielectric constant when materials havingthese characteristics are employed as dielectric materials, a problemarises that a larger portion of the antenna cost is occupied thereby.

The present invention is made to solve the above-mentioned problems andhas for its object to provide a low cost active phased array antenna,and an antenna controlling apparatus, which is of simpler structure andcapable of continuously changing antenna orientation characteristics.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to Claim 1 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna which has a structure in which pluralantenna patches and a feeding terminal for applying a high-frequencyelectric power to a dielectric substrate are provided on the dielectricsubstrate, the respective antenna patches and the feeding terminal areconnected by feeding lines branching off from the feeding terminal, anda phase shifter which can electrically change the phase of ahigh-frequency signal passing on the respective feeding lines arearranged to constitute a part of the feeding lines, and the phaseshifter comprises a microstrip hybrid coupler which employsparaelectrics as base material and a microstrip stab which employsferroelectrics as base material and which is electrically connected tothe microstrip hybrid coupler, and a dc control voltage is applied tothe microstrip stab to change the passing phase shift quantity.

Therefore, by changing a control voltage, the passing phase shiftquantity can be changed successively, and further, a phase shifter and afeeding line can be constituted by a single conductor layer, whereby itis possible to supply a control voltage to plural phase shifters througha single control line, thereby simplifying a wiring.

According to Claim 2 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna as defined in Claim 1, wherein the pluralantenna patches are arranged in matrix at equal intervals in the row andcolumn directions respectively, the phase shifters are arranged so thatthe number of the phase shifters inserted between each antenna patch ineach row and the feeding terminal is larger by one sequentially than thenumber of the phase shifters inserted between each antenna patch inadjacent row and the feeding terminal, and so that the number of thephase shifters inserted between each antenna patch in each column andthe feeding terminal is larger by one sequentially than the number ofthe phase shifters inserted between each antenna patch in adjacentcolumn and the feeding terminal, and all the phase shifters have thesame characteristics in the row and column directions respectively.

Therefore, it is possible to control antenna the orientationcharacteristics of an antenna regardless of the number of antennapatches only by changing a control voltage applied from the both endsides of a control line to which plural phase shifters are connected.

According to Claim 3 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna as defined in Claim 1 or 2, wherein theactive phased array antenna is constructed by laminating seven layers,which seven layers comprises a first layer, a second layer, . . . , aseventh layer sequentially from the top layer, and the first, third,fifth, and seventh layer comprise dielectric material, while the second,fourth, and sixth layer comprise conductor, and further, the activephased array antenna has a first microstrip structure comprising thefirst, second, third, and fourth layer, and a second microstripstructure comprising the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh layer and thefirst microstrip structure and the above-mentioned second microstripstructure share the fourth layer as a grounded layer, and further, theantenna patch is provided in the second layer, the feeding line and thephase shifter are provided in the sixth layer, air is employed in thethird layer, and a combination of air and the ferroelectrics is employedin the fifth layer.

Therefore, as a dielectric material between conductor layers of themicrostrip structure, air which causes a significantly small loss of ahigh-frequency electric power and has a stable dielectric constant isused, and as a dielectric base material outside the surface of thefeeding line conductor layer, a dielectric member which supports anantenna patch and a feeding line conductor is used, whereby they mayalso serve as protective layers at the antenna surface, resulting in alow cost device with a simple structure.

According to Claim 4 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna which is provided with a phase shifter thatcomprises at least an open end stab having ferroelectrics andferromagnetic materials as base materials, and a microstrip hybridcoupler having paraelectrics as base materials.

According to Claim 5 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna as defined in Claim 4, wherein the open endstab is constituted by laminating a grounded conductor, theferroelectric, a strip conductor, and the ferromagnetic materials,sequentially.

According to Claim 6 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna as defined in Claim 4, wherein the open endstab is constituted by laminating the grounded conductor, theferroelectric, the ferromagnetic materials, and the strip conductor, andthe ferroelectrics and the ferromagnetic materials are laminated betweenthe grounded conductor and the strip conductor in a surface directionparallel to the grounded conductor surface.

Therefore, the active phased array antennas defined in Claims 4 to 6 canrealize an active phased array antenna which is of a simple structureand enables continuous and wide variations of orientationcharacteristics with a simple structure.

According to Claim 7 of the present invention, there is provided anantenna controlling apparatus which is molded employing ferroelectrics,ferromagnetic materials, paraelectrics, and electrode materials by anintegral molding using ceramics, and the above-mentntioned antennacontrolling apparatus is provided with a function of a phase shifter.

According to Claim 8 of the present invention, there is provided anantenna controlling apparatus which is molded employing ferroelectrics,ferromagnetic materials, paraelectrics, and electrode materials by anintegral molding using ceramics, and the antenna controlling apparatusis provided with functions of a phase shifter and a dc blocking element.

According to Claim 9 of the present invention, there is provided anantenna controlling apparatus which is molded employing ferroelectrics,ferromagnetic materials, paraelectrics, and electrode materials by anintegral molding using ceramics, and the antenna controlling apparatusis provided with functions of a phase shifter, a dc blocking element,and a high-frequency blocking element.

According to Claim 10 of the present invention, there is provided anantenna controlling apparatus which is molded employing ferroelectrics,ferromagnetic materials, paraelectrics, and electrode materials by anintegral molding using ceramics, and the antenna controlling apparatusis provided with functions of a phase shifter, a dc blocking element,and a high-frequency blocking element, and an antenna patch.

Therefore, an active phased array antenna which employs the antennacontrolling apparatuses defined in Claims 7 to 10 of the presentinvention can realize an active phased array antenna with a lessperformance degradation due to accuracy variations at the assembly.

According to Claim 11 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna as defined in any of Claims 1 to 3, whereinan antenna controlling apparatus as defined in any of Claims 7 to 10 isprovided.

According to Claim 12 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna comprising a row-column array antennawherein row array antennas, in each of which antenna patches and phaseshifters are connected alternately serially, are connected with phaseshifters alternately in series, in which there is provided an antennacontrolling apparatus as defined in any of Claims 7 to 10.

Therefore, the active phased array antennas defined in Claims 11 or 12can realize an active phased array antenna which is of a simplestructure and capable of continuously changing orientationcharacteristics.

According to Claim 13 of the present invention, in the active phasedarray antenna as defined in any of Claims 1 to 12, the groundedconductor is subjected to drawing.

According to Claim 14 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna as defined in Claim 13, wherein all thefeeding lines are provided with a strip conductor comprising a linearconductor having identical sectional shape.

Therefore, the active phased array antenna defined in Claim 13 or 14 canrealize a high-gain active phased array antenna without employing anexpensive low-loss dielectric material.

According to Claim 15 of the present invention, there is provided anactive phased array antenna as defined in any of Claims 1 to 6, or Claim12, a supporting dielectric material, the grounded conductor, and thestrip conductor for feeding are laminated to form the lamination, andthis lamination and an antenna controlling apparatus as defined in anyof Claims 7 to 10 are molded by an integral molding using ceramics.

Therefore, it is possible to realize a high-performance active phasedarray antenna in a millimeter wave.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is a diagram illustrating the structure of an active phasedarray antenna according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1(b) is adiagram for explaining the maximum sensitivity direction of the receivedelectric wave by an antenna patch of the active phased array antennaaccording to the first embodiment.

FIG. 2(a) is a diagram illustrating the construction of a phase shifterof the active phased array antenna according to the first embodiment,and FIG. 2(b) is a graph illustrating a change of the effectivedielectric constant of a microstrip stab with relative to a biaselectric field produced by a control voltage.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the structure of theactive phased array antenna according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the cross-sectional structure (a part)of the active phased array antenna according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 5(a), (b), and (c) are diagrams illustrating the construction of aphase shifter employed for an active phased array antenna according to asecond embodiment, and FIG. 5(d) is a diagram illustrating a biaselectric field produced by a control voltage in an open end stab and amagnetic field peoduced by a high-frequency electric power.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an antenna controllingapparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7(a) is a block diagram illustrating the construction of an activephased array antenna according to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 7(b) isa diagram for explaining the maximum sensitivity direction of thereceived electric wave by an antenna patch of the active phased arrayantenna according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view for explaining the relation of a groundedconductor and a strip conductor in an active phased array antennaaccording to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating an active phased array antennaaccording to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 10(a) is a block diagram illustrating the structure of aconventional active phased array antenna, and FIG. 10(b) is a blockdiagram illustrating the structure of a phase shifter employed for theconventional active phased array antenna.

BEST MODE TO EXECUTE THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 9. Further, the embodiments to be described hereare examples and are not necessarily restricted thereto.

Embodiment 1

An active phased array antenna according to the present invention willbe described as a first embodiment with reference to figures.

FIG. 1(a) is a block diagram for explaining an example of a structure ofan active phased array antenna 200 according to this embodiment.

This active phased array antenna 200 comprises plural antenna patches106 a-106 p which are arrayed in matrix on a dielectrtic substrate atequal intervals in the row and column directions, a grounded feedingterminal 108 which is applied with high-frequency electric power, afirst control voltage generating means 111 which generates arow-direction orientation control voltage, and a second control voltagegenerating means 112 which generates a column-direction orientationcontrol voltage. The plural antenna patches 106 are connected to thefeeding terminal 108 by feeding lines 121, branching off from thefeeding terminal 108 respectively. Plurally provided phase shifters 107are arranged constituting a part of the feeding lines 121 as describedlater.

Further, on the dielectric substrate, there are formed first to fourthconnection nodes N1-N4 which correspond to respective first to fourthrows in the matrix arrangement of the plural patches 106, andhigh-frequency blocking elements 109 a-109 d are connected betweenrespective connection nodes N1-N4 and the first control voltagegenerating means 111 respectively.

The antenna patches 106 a, 106 e, 106 i, and 106 m which correspond tothe first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row of afirst column in the matrix arrangement of the plural patches 106 aredirectly connected to the first to fourth connection nodes N1-N4,respectively.

The antenna patches 106 b, 106 f, 106 i, and 106 n which correspond tothe first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row of asecond column are connected to the first to fourth connection nodesN1-N4 through the phase shifter 107 a 1, 107 a 5, 107 a 9, and 107 a 13,respectively.

The antenna patches 106 c, 106 g, 106 k, and 106 o which correspond tothe first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row of athird column are connected to the first to fourth connection nodes N1-N4through the two has shifters 107 a 3 and 107 a 4 in series connection,the two phase shifters 107 a 7 and 107 a 8 in series connection, the twophase shifters 107 a 11 and 107 a 12 in series connection, and the twophase shifters 107 a 15 and 107 a 16 in series connection, respectively

The antenna patches 106 d, 106 h, 106 l, and 106 p which correspond tothe first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row of afourth column are connected to the first to fourth connection nodesN1-N4 through the three phase shifters 107 a 2-107 a 4 in seriesconnection, the three phase shifters 107 a 6-107 a 8 in seriesconnection, the three phase shifters 107 a 10-07 a 12 in seriesconnection, and the three phase shifters 107 a 14-107 a 16 in seriesconnection, respectively.

Further, the connection node N1 in the first row is connected to thefeeding terminal 108 through a dc blocking element 110 a and the threephase shifters 107 b 3-107 b 1 in series connection, the connection nodeN2 in the second row is connected to the feeding terminal 108 throughthe dc blocking element 110 b and the two phase shifters 107 b 2 and 107b 1 in series connection, the connection node N3 in the third row isconnected to the feeding terminal 108 through a dc blocking element 110c and the phase shifter 107 b 4, and the connection node N4 in thefourth row is connected to the feeding terminal 108 through the dcblocking element 110 d.

The second control voltage generating means 112 is connected to thefeeding terminal 108 through the high-frequency blocking element 109 e.

Further, the phase shifters 107 a 1-107 a 16 are phase shifters forcontrolling a row-direction orientation which control the row-directionorientation of the active phased array antenna 200 by a control voltagegenerated by the first control voltage generating means 111, and thephase shifters 107 b 1-107 b 4 are phase shifters for controlling acolumn-direction orientation which control the column-direction of theactive phased array antenna 200 by a control voltage of the secondcontrol voltage generating means 112. In respective row and columndirections, all the phase shifters 107 a 1-107 a 16 as well as 107 b1-107 b 4 have the identical characteristics.

In the active phased array antenna 200 having such construction, thephase shifters are arranged such that the number of the phase shiftersfor controlling column-direction which are located between antennapatches in respective fist to fourth rows and the feeding terminal 108is increased one by one successively from the fourth row to the firstrow, as well as that the number of the phase shifters for controllingrow-direction orientation which are located between antenna patches inrespective first to fourth columns and the feeding terminal 108 isincreased one by one successively from the first column to the fourthcolumn, and moreover, the characteristics of the phase shifters 107 areall identical in respective row and column directions, whereby controlsof the orientations in the column direction and the row direction areperformed by a single control voltage.

This will be described specifically. It is supposed that the phase of ahigh-frequency electric power which passes through the phase shiftersfor controlling row-direction 107 a 1-107 a 4 respectively is delayed bythe phase shift Φ, and arranging intervals between respective phaseshifters are distance d.

Here, a high-frequency electric power inputted into the antenna patch106 a in the first row is supplied to the connection node N1 with itsphase unchanged.

Meanwhile, a high-frequency electric power inputted into the antennapatch 106 b in the first row has its phase delayed by the phase shift Φby the phase shifters 107 a 1 and is supplied to the connection node N1.

A high-frequency electric power inputted into the antenna patch 106 c inthe first row has its phase delayed by the phase shift 2Φ by the phaseshifters 107 a 3 and 107 a 4 and is supplied to the connection node N1.

A high-frequency electric power inputted into the antenna patch 106 d inthe first row has its phase delayed by the phase shift 3Φ by the phaseshifters 107 a 2 and 107 a 4 and is supplied to the connection node N1.

In other words, the direction D at a prescribed angle Θ (Θ=cos−1 (Φ/d))with respect to the arrangement direction of the antenna patches 106 ato 106 d in the first row becomes the maximum sensitivity direction ofthe electric wave received by the antenna patches 106 a to 106 d in thefirst row. Further, w1 to w3 in the figure denote wave surfaces of thereceived signal of identical phase.

Also, the orientation characteristics by antenna patches in other rows,that is, the second to the fourth rows are precisely identical to theorientation characteristics by the antenna patches in the first row.

Therefore, when a row-direction orientation control voltage generated bythe first control voltage generating means 111 is changed, the phaseshift Φ by respective phase shifters 107 a 1-107 a 16 is successivelychanged, whereby the angle Φ between the maximum sensitivity directionand the row direction changes in a surface vertical to the columndirection.

On the other hand, the high-frequency electric power supplied to theconnection node N4 corresponding to the fourth column is supplied to thefeeding terminal 108 without causing a change in its phase.

Subsequently, the high-frequency electric power supplied to theconnection node N3 corresponding to the third column has its phasedelayed by the phase shift Φ by the phase shifter 107 b 4 and issupplied to the feeding terminal 108.

The high-frequency electric power supplied to the connection node N2corresponding to the second column has its phase delayed by the phaseshift 2Φ by the phase shifters 107 b 2 and 107 b 1 and is supplied tothe feeding terminal 108.

The high-frequency electric power supplied to the connection node N1corresponding to the first column has its phase delayed by the phaseshift 3Φ by the phase shifters 107 b 3 to 107 b 1 and is supplied to thefeeding terminal 108.

Therefore, when a row-direction orientation control voltage generated bythe second control voltage generating means 112 is changed, the phaseshift Φ by respective phase shifters 107 b 1-107 b 4 is successivelychanged, whereby the angle between the maximum sensitivity direction andthe column direction changes in a surface vertical to the columndirection.

Further, the dc blocking element 110 d is provided between theconnection node N4 corresponding to the fourth row and the feedingterminal, and the dc blocking elements 110 a, 110 b, and 110 c areprovided between the connection nodes N1-N3 corresponding to the firstto third rows and the corresponding phase shifters 107 b 3, 107 b 2, and107 b 4, whereby controls of the phase shifters 107 by control voltagesfrom respective control voltage generating means 111 and 112 areperformed individually for the phase shifters in the row direction andfor the phase shifters in the column direction, respectively. Therefore,in the active phased array antenna 200, the orientation direction can beset to an arbitrary direction on a surface of transmitting/receivingelectric waves of an antenna, that is, on a plane surface including therow direction and the column direction regardless of the number of theantenna patches.

Next, a description will be given of the phase shifter 107 as an elementconstituting the active phased array antenna 200.

FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view illustrating the construction of thephase shifter 107 employed for the active phased array antenna 200.

This phase shifter 107 comprises a microstrip hybrid coupler 103 whichemploys a paraelectric base material 101 and constitutes a part of thefeeding line 121, and a microstrip stab 104 which employs aferroelectric base material 102 and is formed contacting the microstriphybrid coupler 103. It is constituted such that the phase shift quantityof the high-frequency electric power passing through the microstriphybrid coupler 103 is changed by a dc control voltage applied to themicrostrip stab 104.

That is, the material of the phase shifter 107 comprises theparaelectric substrate 101 and the ferroelectric substrate 102.

An annular conductor layer 103 a in a rectangular shape is disposed onthe paraelectric base material 101, and the microstrip hybrid coupler103 comprises these annular conductor layer 103 a and the paraelectric101.

Further, two linear conductor layers 104 a 1 and 104 a 2 are disposed onthe ferroelectric 102 so that they are located where two facing linearparts 103 a 1 and 103 a 2 of the annular conductor layer 103 a in arectangular shape are extended, as well as they are connected to oneends of the two linear parts 103 a 1 and 103 a 2, respectively, and themicrostrip stab 104 comprises the two linear conductor layers 104 a 1and 104 a 2 as well as the ferroelectric 102.

Further, conductor layers 110 a and 120 a are arranged on theparaelectric 101 so that they are located where the two linear parts 103a 1 and 103 a 2 are extended, as well as they are connected to the otherends of the two linear parts 103 a 1 and 103 a 2, respectively.

An input line 110 comprises the conductor layer 110 a and theparaelectric 101, and an input line 120 comprises the conductor layer120 a and the paraelectric 101.

One end side and the other end side of the linear part 103 a 1 of theannular conductor layer 103 a are a port 2 and a port 1 of themicrostrip hybrid coupler 103, respectively, and one end side andanother end side of the linear part 103 a 2 of the annular conductorlayer 103 a are a port 3 and a port 4 of the microstrip hybrid coupler103. That is, the phase shifter 107 is constituted such that the phaseshift quantity of the passing high-frequency electric power is changedby applying a dc control voltage to the microstrip stab 104.

This will be described in more detail.

In the phase shifter 107 having a construction in which identicalreflection elements (microstrip stab 104) are connected to the adjacenttwo ports (port 2 and port 3) of the microstrip hybrid coupler 103correctly design, a high-frequency electric power inputted from an inputport (port 1) is not outputted from this input port, and ahigh-frequency electric power reflecting the electric power reflected bythe reflection elements is only outputted to an output port (port 4).Since the reflection at the microstrip stab 104 as a reflection elementis such that the bias electric field 105 produced by a control voltageis directed in the same direction as the electric field produced by ahigh-frequency electric power which propagates through the microstripstab 104 as shown in FIG. 2(a), when the control voltage is changed, theeffective dielectric constant of the microstrip stab 104 for thehigh-frequency electric power is also changed as shown in FIG. 2(b).

Here, since the bias electric field 105 required for changing theeffective dielectric constant of the microstrip stab 14 isseveral-kilovolts/millimeter to several-tens-kilovolts/millimeter in atypical ferroelectric, there is no case where higher harmonic waves aregenerated due to that the effective dielectric constant is affected bythe electric field produced by the high-frequency electric power whichpropagates on the microstrip stab 104.

As described above, in the phase shifter 107 constituting the activephased array antenna 200, when a control voltage is changed, the phaseshift quantity of a high-frequency electric power is changed, adfurther, since the phase shifter 107 and the feeding line 121 arecomposed of a conductor layer, it is possible to supply a controlvoltage to plural phase shifters 107 through a single feeding line 121.

Next, a specific structure of the active phased array antenna 200 willbe described.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the structure ofthe active phased array antenna 200. Four antenna patches 202 describedin FIG. 3 correspond to the antenna patches 106 i, 106 j, 106 m, and 106n of the active phased array antenna 200. Other parts will not bedescribed in particular here.

A further description will be given with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. Theactive phased array antenna 200 has a plate shaped dielectric 205,around which a peripheral wall 205 a is provided.

A groove for supporting feeding line 213 is provided on the dielectric205, and a conductor layer 204, which constitutes the feeding line 121,the microstrip hybrid coupler 103 as well as the microstrip stab 104,and the dc blocking element 110 as well as the high-frequency blockingelement 109, is inserted and is fixed in the feeding line supportinggroove 213.

On a part of the conductor layer 204 constituting the dc blockingelement 110, a conductor piece (conductor piece for dc blockingcapacity) 211 which constitutes the dc blocking element 110 is laminatedvia an insulation film (film for dc blocking capacity) 219 whichconstitutes the dc blocking element 110 (capacity element).

A ferroelectric member 206 is disposed on a part of the conductor layer204 constituting the microstrip stab 104.

On the dielectric 205, a sharing grounded conductor layer 203 isarranged at a prescribed distance from the conductor layer 204 so as tocover the conductor layer 204, the conductor piece for dc blockingcapacity 211, and the ferroelectric member 206.

A coupling window 207 is provided at a part of the sharing groundedconductor layer 203 corresponding to the side end of the antenna patch202 of the feeding line 121.

On the sharing grounded conductor layer 203, a plate shaped dielectricmember 201 is arranged so as to provide a prescribed interval with thesharing grounded conductor layer 203.

The plate shaped dielectric member 201 is supported on the dielectric205 by a supporting member 201 a penetrating an element through hole 203a provided on the sharing grounded conductor layer 203.

An antenna patch supporting groove 212 is provided at a part of theplate dielectric member 201 opposing the coupling window 207, and anantenna patch 202 is embedded and fixed in the antenna patch supportinggroove 212.

Further, numeral 214 denotes a feeding terminal formed at an end of thefeeding line 121, numeral 215 denotes a control terminal for applying acontrol voltage to control the orientation in the X direction (rowdirection), numeral 216 denotes a control terminal for applying acontrol voltage to control the orientation in the Y direction (columndirection), numeral 208 denotes a phase shifter for X-directionorientation control, and numeral 209 denotes a phase shifter forY-direction orientation control. Further, numeral 210 denotes ahigh-frequency blocking stab and numeral 211 denotes a conductor piecefor dc blocking capacity. An opening 217 for taking out feedingterminals is provided at a part facing the feeding terminal on theperipheral wall of the dielectric 205, and an opening 218 for taking outcontrol terminals is provided at a part facing the control terminals 215and 216 on the peripheral wall of the dielectric 205.

The active phased array antenna illustrated in FIG. 3 has thecross-sectional structure as illustrated in FIG. 4. More specifically,the cross-sectional view here illustrates the cross-sectional structurearound a part corresponding to the antenna patch 106 j and the phaseshifter 107 a 9 of the active phased array antenna 200 illustrated inFIG. 1(a).

In this active phased array antenna 200, the whole comprises sevenlayers, respective layers being a first layer, . . . a seventh layersequentially from the top layer, and the dielectric member 201 in afirst layer, an air space 123 a in a third layer, an air space 123 b andthe ferroelectric member 206 in a fifth layer, and the dielectric 205 inthe seventh layer are made from dielectric materials, while the antennapatch 202 in a second layer, the sharing grounded conductor layer 203 ina fourth layer, and the feeding line 121 and the phase shifters 208 and209 in a sixth layer are made from conductors, and these are laminatedto make a construction. Further, a first microstrip structure 126comprises the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and thefourth layer, while a second microstrip structure 127 is composed of thefourth layer, the fifth layer, the sixth layer, and the seventh layer,and the first microstrip structure 126 and the second microstripstructure 127 shares the fourth layer as a grounded layer.

The antenna patch 202 and the feeding line 121 are coupledelectromagnetically through the coupling window 207 provided on thesharing grounded conductor layer 203, thereby to transfer ahigh-frequency electric power.

As described above, in the active phased array antenna 200 according tothe present invention, a high-frequency electric power which propagatesthrough the antenna patch 202 (106) or the feeding line 121 flowsintensively almost between the conductor layer and the sharing groundedconductor layer 203 constituting the antenna patch 202 and between theconductor layer 204 and the sharing grounded conductor layer 203constituting the antenna feeding line 121, and therefore, as adielectric base material between these conductor layers, air whichcauses a significantly small loss and has a stable dielectric constantis used.

In addition, as a dielectric substrate outside the surface of theconductor layer constituting the antenna patch 202 and the feeding line121, which provides no necessity of requiring a small loss and thedielectric stability since a high-frequency electric power is notconcentrated, the dielectrics 201 and 205 which support the conductorconstituting the antenna patch 202 and the feeding line 121 is employedas it is.

Further, the dielectric base materials 201 and 205 may also serve asprotective layers for the surface of the active phased array antenna200.

With such construction, the conventional problem that the cost of theactive phased array antenna would be determined by the cost of thedielectric of microstrip structure, which should play a role ofcontrolling propagation characteristics of a high-frequency electricpower as well as supporting the antenna patch and the feeding lineconductor, while should be small in loss and stable in dielectricconstant as high-frequency characteristics, can be solved, and theactive phased array antenna can be realized with a simple structure andat a low cost.

The operation of the above-mentioned active phased array antenna 200according to this embodiment will be described.

First, when a high-frequency electric power is inputted into the antennapatches 106 a-106 p, the high-frequency electric power is supplied fromthe antenna patch 106 to the feeding terminal 108 through thecorresponding dc blocking elements or phase shifters.

Specifically, the high-frequency electric power inputted into theantenna patch 202 (106) is transferred to the feeding line 121 throughthe coupling window 207. When the high-frequency electric power istransferred to the feeding line 121, it is supplied to the phase shifter107 through the feeding line 121. At this time, a row-directionorientation control voltage and a column-direction orientation controlvoltage are supplied to the respective phase shifters 107 from the firstcontrol voltage generating means 111 and the second control voltagegenerating means 112. Therefore, the high-frequency electric power hasits phase changed for a phase shift quantity determined by thesevoltages, and are outputted to the feeding terminal through the feedingline.

As described above, in this embodiment, the phase shifter 107constituting the active phased array antenna 200 is constituted by themicrostrip hybrid coupler 103, which constitutes a part of the feedingline 121 and has paraelectrics as base material, and the microstrip stab104 which has ferroelectrics as base material and is electricallyconnected to the microstrip hybrid coupler 103, and the phase shiftquantity of the high-frequency electric power passing through themicrostrip hybrid coupler 103 is changed by a dc control voltage appliedto the microstrip hybrid coupler 103, thereby changing the phase shiftquantity of the high-frequency electric power successively.

Further, because the microstrip hybrid coupler 103 constitutes a part ofthe feeding lien 121 and the microstrip stab 104 is electricallyconnected with the microstrip hybrid coupler 103, it is possible toconnect the plural phase shifters 107 to a single feeding line 121 an toconstruct the phase shifter 107 and the feeding line 121 with a singleconductor layer 204, and therefore, it is possible to supply a controlvoltage to the plural phase shifters 107 through a single feeding line121, thereby simplifying the wiring.

Further, since the phase shifter 107 and the feeding line 121 can beconstructed with a single conductor layer 204, by adjusting the numberof the phase shifters arranged between respective antenna patches 106arrayed in matrix and the feeding terminal 108, it is possible to changea control voltage applied from both end sides of the feeding line 121,thereby to control the orientation characteristics of the active phasedarray antenna 200 continuously regardless of the number of the antennapatches 106.

Further, in the active phased array antenna 200 according to theembodiment, the dc blocking element 110 is provided between the firstcontrol voltage generating means 111 and the second control voltagegenerating means 112 so that a phase shift of a signal is performedindividually for the phase shifters 107 in the row direction and for thephase shifters 107 in the column direction, whereby the maximumsensitivity direction of the active phased array antenna 200 can be setat an arbitrary direction on a plane surface including the row directionand the column direction by respective control voltage generating means111 and 112, regardless of the number of the antenna patches 106.

Further, as a dielectric base material between the conductor layers ofthe microstrip structure, air which causes a significantly small loss ofa high-frequency electric power and has a stable dielectric constant isused, and as a dielectric base material outside the surface of thefeeding line conductor, the dielectric member supporting the antennapatch and the feeding line conductor is used, thereby it may serve as aprotective layer of the antenna surface, thereby realizing a simplestructure at a low cost.

While a case where the number of antenna patches is 4×4 is described inthis embodiment, patch numbers other than this are also possible.Further, while a description was given of an antenna which is designedso that the lengths of the feeding lines from respective antenna patchesto the feeding terminal excluding the phase shifters are equal to eachother, a transmission line for offset may be provided at the length ofthe feeding line from each antenna patch to the feeding terminalexcluding the phase shifters in order to previously give an offset inthe direction of orientation characteristics.

While a construction method in which a line impedance in each branch-offline is not unified, thereby to omit a matching device is described inthis embodiment, by providing a matching device at each branch point inthe row and column directions to unify a line impedance, phase shiftersall of which have the same characteristics in respective row and columndirections can be used. In addition, by making unified impedance in bothdirections be the same, the active phased array in the present inventioncan be constructed with phase shifters whose characteristics are all thesame. Further, while in the embodiment a description was given of themethod in which the conductor layer constituting the antenna patch andthe feeding line is embedded and fixed in the groove of concavestructure which is provided in the dielectric substrate, the conductorlayer may be fixed on the dielectric substrate as a column of convexstructure, and further, a support structure of supporting the conductorlayer by a method which is hardly affected by the dielectric constant ofthe dielectric substrate is also possible.

Embodiment 2

As shown in FIG. 2, the phase shifter 107 of the above-described activephased array antenna 200 according to the first embodiment has themicrostrip hybrid coupler 103, which constitutes a part of the feedingline 121 and has paraelectrics as base material, and the microstrip stab104 which has ferroelectrics as base material, and is providedcontacting the microstrip hybrid coupler 103, and here, the relativedielectric constant of the ferroelectrics is generally high and a lineimpedance of the microstrip stab 104 generally tends to decrease.Therefore, a reflection of a high-frequency electric power is large at aconnection part of the microstrip hybrid coupler 103 and the microstripstab 104 and a large amount of high-frequency electric power is returnedto the microstrip hybrid coupler 103 without entering the microstripstab 104. As a result, an effective phase shift quantity cannot beobtained in many cases. Thus, variation amount in the antennaorientation characteristics is also restricted to a narrow range.

As shown in FIG. 5, in a phase shifter 351 employed for an active phasedarray antenna, a ferromagnetic layer 356 is provided close to amicrostrip stab 361 which employs a ferroelectric base material 357,thereby increasing a line impedance of the microstrip stab 361 which isdecreased by the ferroelectric base material 357, resulting in removingthe above-mentioned defects.

An active phased array antenna which is provided with at least an openend stab which has the ferroelectrics and the ferromagnetic material asbase material, and a microstrip hybrid coupler which has a paraelectricsas a base material will be described as a second embodiment withreference to figures.

As described above, FIG. 5 are perspective views of the phase shifteremployed for the active phased array antenna and a cross-sectional viewof the open end stab according to this embodiment.

First, the configuration of the phase shifter 351 shown in figures(a)-(c) will be described.

Numerals 352 and 353 denote open end stabs. The open end stab 352 isconstituted by a grounded conductor, ferroelectrics, a strip conductor,and ferromagnetic material being laminated subsequently, and the openend stab 353 is constituted by the ferroelectrics and the ferromagneticmaterial being laminated between the grounded conductor and the stripconductor in a surface direction parallel to the grounded conductorsurface.

Further, numeral 354 denotes a microstrip hybrid coupler, numeral 355denotes a paraelectric base material, numeral 356 denotes aferromagnetic layer, numeral 357 denotes a ferroelectric base material,numeral 360 denotes a sharing grounded conductor layer, numeral 361denotes a microstrip stab, and numeral 362 denotes a beer hole.

In FIG. 5(b), numeral 358 denotes a bias electric field produced by acontrol voltage such as a dc control voltage and a high-frequencyelectric power, and numeral 359 denotes a magnetic field produced by ahigh-frequency electric power.

With respect to the alignment of the ferroelectric base material 357 andthe ferromagnetic layer 356, structures in FIGS. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), andthe like are possible.

FIG. 5(a) has characteristics that the structure is simple and thereforea manufacturing method thereof is also simple, FIG. 5(b) hascharacteristics that the thickness of the phase shifter can be thinned,and FIG. 5(c) has characteristics that the thickness of the phaseshifter is thinned and an interpolating via hole is not required.

The ferromagnetic layer 356 shown in FIG. 5 has an effect of increasingthe line impedance of the microstrip stab 361 which is reduced by theferroelectric base material 357, whereby a reflection of the electricpower at a connection part of the microstrip hybrid coupler 354 and themicrostrip stab 361 is small and most of the high-frequency electricpower is input to the microstrip stab 361, thereby an effective phaseshift quantity can be obtained. Thus, when an active phased arrayantenna employing the above-described phase shifter which can obtain theeffective phase shift quantity is constituted, the active phased arrayantenna capable of widely changing orientation characteristics can berealized.

As described above, in the active phased array antenna according to theembodiment, the active phased array antenna which is capable of widelychanging orientation characteristics can be realized.

Embodiment 3

When an active phased array antenna which can be used in amicrowave/millimeter wave area is to be realized, not only performancesof elements in respective functions constituting the active phased arrayantenna but also an accuracy in an assembly when constructing an antennafrom respective constituent elements are generally important for thewavelength which the active phased array antenna handles. That is, whenconstructing an active phased array antenna employing respectiveconstituent elements, the larger the number of constituent elements is,the faulty rate may be eminently deteriorated.

Then, it is thought of to construct an antenna controlling apparatuswhich has respective functional elements constituting the active phasedarray antenna is constituted by an integral molding technique, therebypreventing deterioration in the faulty rate.

That is, when an antenna controlling apparatus which is integrallymolded as described above is employed for an active phased arrayantenna, the number of constituent elements employed for constructioncan be reduced, thereby resulting in reduction in the faulty rate.

While it is possible to reduce the deterioration of the performance andthe faulty rate of an active phased array antenna by including al thefunctional elements in the integrated antenna controlling apparatus,when plural kinds of active phased array antenna are to be produced froma kind of antenna controlling apparatus, it is preferred that the kindsof functional elements provided in the antenna controlling apparatusshould be greater.

For example, it is thought of that integrally molding one or pluralphase shifter functions, integrally molding the phase shifter functionand the dc blocking function, or integrally molding the phase shifterfunction, the dc blocking element, and the high frequency blockingelement function can provide the kinds of combination of functionalelements.

An antenna controlling apparatus according to the present invention willbe described as a third embodiment with reference to figures.

The antenna controlling apparatus according to this embodiment is moldedby an integral molding using ceramics, employing ferroelectrics,ferromagnetic materials, paraelectrics, and electrode materials.

The construction of the antenna controlling apparatus 400 will bedescribed with reference to a perspective view shown in FIG. 6 whichconcerns an example of the integrally molded antenna controllingapparatus according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 6, numeral 401 denotes a paraelectric base material, numeral 402denotes a phase shifter, numeral 403 denotes a ferroelectric basematerial, numeral 404 denotes a ferromagnetic base material, numeral 405denotes a dielectric material for capacitor, numeral 406 denotes asharing grounded conductor layer, numeral 407 denotes a microstriphybrid coupler, numeral 408 denotes an open end stab, numeral 409denotes a dc blocking element, numeral 410 denotes a high-frequencyblocking element, numeral 411 denotes a via hole, numeral 412 denotes anantenna patch, numeral 413 denotes a feeding line, and numeral 414denotes a dc control voltage terminal.

While functions of the phase shifter, the dc blocking element, thehigh-frequency blocking element, and the antenna patch are moldedintegrally in the antenna controlling apparatus 401 illustrated in thefigure, it is also possible to, according to a property or a performanceof an active phased array antenna employed, omit, for example, threemembers of the dc blocking element, the high-frequency blocking element,and the antenna patch, and mold only a function of the phase shifter. Itis also possible to mold functions of the phase shifter and the dcblocking element, or to mold functions of the phase shifter, the dcblocking element, and the high-frequency blocking element as othercombinations.

For example, in the active phased array antenna shown in FIG. 1, thephase shifter 107, the dc blocking element 110, the high-frequencyblocking element 109, and the antenna patch 106 are integrally molded byan integral molding using ceramics, and this is employed for the antennacontrolling apparatus, thereby reducing the number of functionalelements employed for the active phased array antenna, resulting inreduction in variations concerning the performance.

As described above, various features are integrally molded by theintegral molding using ceramics to constitute an antenna controllingapparatus, and this antenna controlling apparatus is employed for anactive phased array antenna, thereby reducing the number of respectivefunctional elements used for an active phased array antenna andvariations concerning the performance of the active phased arrayantenna.

Therefore, by employing the antenna controlling apparatus according tothe embodiment, an active phased array antenna with less performancedegradation due to accuracy variation at the assembly can be realized,and further, many kinds of active phased array antenna can bemanufactured with a single antenna controlling apparatus.

Embodiment 4

With reference to figures, an active phased array antenna 801 will bedescribed as a fourth embodiment, which is a row-column array antennawherein row array antennas, in each of which antenna patches and phaseshifters are connected alternately serially, are connected with phaseshifters alternately in series, and employs the antenna controllingapparatus described in the above-described third embodiment.

FIG. 7(a) is a diagram showing a construction of the active phased arrayantenna which is a row and column array antenna according to thisembodiment.

In FIG. 7(a), numeral 802 denotes a row array antenna, numeral 803denotes a row and column array antenna, numeral 804 denotes an antennapatch, numeral 805 denotes a row-direction orientation control phaseshifter, numeral 806 denotes a column-direction orientation controlphase shifter, numeral 807 denotes a feeding terminal, numeral 808denotes a high-frequency blocking element, numeral 809 denotes a dcblocking element, numeral 810 denotes a row-direction orientationcontrol voltage, numeral 811 denotes a column-direction orientationcontrol voltage, and numeral 812 denotes a matching circuit.

In FIG. 7, the active phased array antenna 801 is a leakage wave antennawhich aggressively employs a leakage wave from each patch 804. A leakagewave antenna is generally designed so that a patch far from the feedingterminal has a lower leakage electric power. However, in the activephased array antenna according to the present invention, a radiationimpedance of each patch and a matching ratio of each matching device 812are selected so that a leakage electric power from each patch is thesame, so as to determine a maximum sensitivity by an after-mentionedformula (Θ=cos−1 (Φ/d)). As shown in FIG. 7(b), row-directionorientation control phase shifters 805 a-805 c respectively delay ashift of a high-frequency electric power passing by the phase shift Φ.Supposing that intervals at which respective phase shifters 805 arearranged are distance d, a high-frequency electric power input into theantenna patch 804 a in the first row is supplied to a connection node N1without a phase shift. Meanwhile, a high-frequency electric power inputinto the antenna patch 804 b in the first row has its phase delayed bythe phase shift Φ by the phase shifter 805 a and is supplied to theconnection node N1, a high-frequency electric power inputted into theantenna patch 804 c in a first row has its phase delayed by the phaseshift 2Φ by the phase shifters 805 a and 805 b and is supplied to theconnection node N1, and a high-frequency electric power input into theantenna patch 804 d in the first row has its phase delayed by the phaseshift 3Φ by the phase shifters 805 a, 805 b, and 805 c and is suppliedto the connection node N1.

In other words, the direction D at a prescribed angle Θ (Θ=cos−1 (Φ/d))with respect to the arrangement direction of the antenna patches 804a-804 d in the first row becomes the maximum sensitivity direction ofthe received electric wave by the antenna patches 804 a-804 d in thefirst row. Further, w1-w3 in the figure denote wave surfaces of thereceived signal of identical phase.

Also, the orientation characteristics by antenna patches in other rows,that is, the second to the fourth rows are precisely identical to theabove-described orientation characteristics by the antenna patches inthe first row.

Therefore, when a row-direction orientation control voltage 810 ischanged, the phase shift Φ by the phase shifters 805 a-805 l issuccessively changed, whereby the angle Θ between the maximumsensitivity direction and the row direction changes in a surfacevertical to the column direction.

On the other hand, a high-frequency electric power supplied to theconnection node N4 corresponding to the fourth column is supplied to thefeeding terminal 807 without causing a change in its phase.

A high-frequency electric power supplied to the connection node N3corresponding to the third column has its phase delayed by the phaseshift Φ by the phase shifter 806 c, and is supplied to the feedingterminal 807.

A high-frequency electric power supplied to the connection node N2corresponding to the second column has its phase delayed by the phaseshift 2Φ by the phase shifters 806 b and 806 c, and is supplied to thefeeding terminal 807.

A high-frequency electric power supplied to the connection node N1corresponding to the first column has its phase delayed by the phaseshift 3Φ by the phase shifters 806 a, 806 b, and 806 c, and is suppliedto the feeding terminal 807.

Therefore, when a row-direction orientation control voltage 811 ischanged, the phase shift Φ by the phase shifters 806 a-806 c issuccessively changed, whereby the angle between the maximum sensitivitydirection and the column direction changes in a surface vertical to thecolumn direction.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possibleto realize an antenna which enables wide variation of orientationcharacteristics by employing a phase shifter using ferroelectrics andferromagnetic materials, to decrease performance degradation due toaccuracy variation at the assembly by molding functional elements of anantenna control integrally, has many kinds, is capable of changingorientation characteristics continuously with a simple structure, and islow in cost.

Embodiment 5

An active phased array antenna employing a grounded conductor subjectedto drawing will be described with reference to a figure as a fifthembodiment.

Since a feeding line employed for an active phased array antennagenerally has a different line impedance required for each part, alinear conductor having a different sectional shape for each feedingline is employed as a strip conductor, thereby changing the distancebetween the strip conductor and the grounded conductor. That is, it isutilized that the line impedance is different when the distance betweenthe strip conductor and the grounded conductor is different.

However, there occurs a need to employ plural kinds of strip conductorsin this method, and thus, a manufacturing process of an active phasedarray antenna becomes complicated, resulting in variation occurring inits performance.

This embodiment solves the above-described problem by subjecting thegrounded conductor to drawing.

FIG. 8 is an expanded perspective view illustrating a part 901 of anactive phased array antenna with its grounded conductor subjected todrawing.

In FIG. 8, numeral 902 denotes a strip conductor, numeral 903 denotes agrounded conductor, numeral 904 denotes a part of convex drawing, andnumeral 905 denotes a part of concave drawing.

That is, the active phased array antenna according to the presentinvention comprises the grounded conductor 903 being provided with theconvex draw 904 and the concave draw 905, and the strip conductor 902 asa feeding line as shown in FIG. 8.

It is a preferable mode to constitute the strip conductor 902 with alinear conductor having wholly identical sectional shape.

That is, even when the strip conductor 902 is a linear conductor havingwholly identical sectional shape, the distance between the stripconductor and the grounded conductor is different due to the convexdrawing part 904 and the concave drawing part 905 provided in thegrounded conductor 903 at each part of the feeding line, whereby lineimpedances Z1, Z2, and Z3 can be obtained being different for respectivelines even when a linear conductor having different sectional shape foreach line is not employed, as shown in the figure.

Therefore, according to the feeding line in the present invention, alinear conductor having wholly identical sectional shape can beemployed, thereby realizing a low-cost active phased array antenna.

Further, it is also possible that since the strip conductor 902 uses alinear conductor having wholly identical sectional shape, a linearconductor which has different length for each linear part of the feedingline, for example, is prepared, this is fixed at a specified position,and a contact point of linear conductors which corresponds to a flectionpart of the feeding line is connected by soldering or the like, therebyto realize the whole feeding line.

Thereby, it is not required to use conductor materials for feeding lineof complicated shape, and therefore, distortion defect of materials atthe transportation or the handling of conductor materials for feedingline can be avoided in a production department, resulting in a furtherlow-cost active phased array antenna.

Embodiment 6

An active phased array antenna 906 will be described with reference to afigure as a sixth embodiment, in which a lamination formed by laminatinga supporting dielectric material, a grounded conductor, and a stripconductor for feeding, and the antenna controlling apparatus asdescribed in the third embodiment are molded by an integral moldingusing ceramics.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the active phasedarray antenna 906 according to the sixth embodiment. In FIG. 9, numeral907 denotes an antenna controlling apparatus, numeral 908 denotes asupporting dielectric material, numeral 909 denotes a groundedconductor, numeral 910 denotes a strip conductor for feeding, numeral911 denotes an antenna patch, and numeral 912 denotes an antennaconnection hole.

In this embodiment, a lamination is formed by laminating the supportingdielectric material 908, the grounded conductor 909, and the stripconductor for feeding 910 in the first place. Next, this lamination, theantenna controlling apparatus 907, and the antenna patch 911 are moldedby the integral molding using ceramics.

With respect to the antenna controlling apparatus 907, that described inthe third embodiment is used.

With the above-described construction, it is possible to perform all theprocesses of manufacturing active phased array antenna by amanufacturing process of ceramic multilayer base material.

That is, a manufacturing accuracy of each functional element requiredfor an active phased array antenna and an accuracy of antenna assemblycan all meet an operating accuracy required by the tens-micron in apresent antenna manufacture in millimeter waveband, thereby realizing amanufacture of a high-performance active phased array antenna employedin millimeter waveband.

While a hybrid coupler is described as a branch line type in theabove-described embodiment, others such as a ¼ wavelength distributioncoupling type, a rat race type, or a phase inversion hybrid ring type,and further, a hybrid coil constituted by a microstrip or the like arealso possible.

APPLICABILITY IN INDUSTRY

As described above, an active phased array antenna and an antennacontrolling apparatus according to the present invention do not requirea circuit configuration for switching many transmission lines and cansimplify a circuit configuration or wiring constituting a phase shifter,whereby they are significantly available as a low-cost active phasedarray antenna and an antenna controlling apparatus which are of simplerstructure and capable of continuously changing antenna orientationcharacteristics.

What is claimed is:
 1. An active phased array antenna which has astructure in which plural antenna patches and a feeding terminal forapplying a high-frequency electric power to a dielectric base materialare provided on the dielectric base material, the respective antennapatches and the feeding terminal are connected by feeding linesbranching off from the feeding terminal, and a phase shifter which canelectrically change the phase of a high-frequency signal passing on therespective feeding lines are arranged to constitute a part of thefeeding lines; said phase shifter comprising a microstrip hybridcoupler, which employs paraelectrics as base material and a microstripstab which employs ferroelectrics as base material and which iselectrically connected to the microstrip hybrid coupler; and a dccontrol voltage being applied to the microstrip stab to change thepassing phase shift quantity.
 2. The active phased array antenna asdefined in claim 1, wherein the plural antenna patches are arranged inmatrix at equal intervals in the row and column directions respectively,the phase shifters are arranged so that the number of the phase shiftersinserted between each antenna patch in each row and the feeding terminalis larger by one sequentially than the number of the phase shiftersinserted between each antenna patch in adjacent row and the feedingterminal, and so that the number of the phase shifters inserted betweeneach antenna patch in each column and the feeding terminal is larger byone sequentially than the number of the phase shifters inserted betweeneach antenna patch in adjacent column and the feeding terminal, and allthe phase shifters have the same characteristics in the row and columndirections respectively.
 3. The active phased array antenna as definedin claim 1, wherein the active phased array antenna is constructed bylaminating seven layers; said seven layers comprising a first layer, asecond layer, . . . , a seventh layer sequentially from the top layer;the first, third, fifth, and seventh layer comprising dielectricmaterials, while the second, fourth, and sixth layer comprisingconductor, the active phased array antenna has a first microstripstructure comprising the first, second, third, and fourth layer, and asecond microstrip structure comprising the fourth, fifth, sixth, andseventh layer; said first microstrip structure and second microstripstructure sharing the fourth layer as a grounded layer, and the antennapatch is provided in the second layer, the feeding line and the phaseshifter are provided in the sixth layer, air is employed in the thirdlayer, and a combination of air and the ferroelectrics is employed inthe fifth layer.
 4. The active phased array antenna as defined in claim1, wherein an antenna controlling apparatus is provided.
 5. The activephased array antenna as defined in claim 1, wherein the groundedconductor is subjected to drawing.
 6. The active phased array antenna asdefined in claim 5, wherein all the feeding lines are provided with astrip conductor comprising a linear conductor having identical sectionalshape.
 7. The active phased array antenna as defined in claim 1, whereina supporting dielectric material, the grounded conductor, and the stripconductor for feeding are laminated to form the lamination, and thislamination and an antenna controlling apparatus are molded by anintegral molding using ceramics.
 8. An active phased array antenna beingprovided with a phase shifter which comprises at least an open end stabhaving ferroelectrics and ferromagnetic materials as base materials, anda microstrip hybrid coupler having paraelectrics as base materials. 9.The active phased array antenna as defined in claim 8, wherein the openend stab is constituted by laminating a grounded conductor, theferroelectric, a strip conductor, and the ferromagnetic materials,sequentially.
 10. The active phased array antenna as defined in claim 8,wherein the open end stab is constituted by laminating the groundedconductor, the ferroelectric, the ferromagnetic materials, and the stripconductor; said ferroelectrics and said ferromagnetic materials beinglaminated between said grounded conductor and said strip conductor in asurface direction parallel to the grounded conductor surface.
 11. Anantenna controlling apparatus being molded employing ferroelectrics,ferromagnetic materials, paraelectrics, and electrode materials by anintegral molding using ceramics; said antenna controlling apparatusbeing provided with a function of a phase shifter.
 12. An active phasedarray antenna comprising a row-column array antenna wherein row arrayantennas, in each of which antenna patches and phase shifters areconnected alternately serially, are connected with phase shiftersalternately in series, in which there is provided an antenna controllingapparatus as defined in claim
 11. 13. An antenna controlling apparatusbeing molded employing ferroelectrics, ferromagnetic materials,paraelectrics, and electrode materials by an integral molding usingceramics; said antenna controlling apparatus being provided withfunctions of a phase shifter and a dc blocking element.
 14. An antennacontrolling apparatus being molded employing ferroelectrics,ferromagnetic materials, paraelectrics, and electrode materials by anintegral molding using ceramics; said antenna controlling apparatusbeing provided with functions of a phase shifter, a dc blocking element,and a high-frequency blocking element.
 15. An antenna controllingapparatus being molded employing ferroelectrics, ferromagneticmaterials, paraelectrics, and electrode materials by an integral moldingusing ceramics; said antenna controlling apparatus being provided withfunctions of a phase shifter, a dc blocking element, a high-frequencyblocking element, and an antenna patch.